"'David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him.... But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God."

Pray, pray, pray. Give it up to God, and he will see fit when to deliver you from evil. But, sometimes God DOES expect us to act on will, not our emotions. That means you may have to pick up your boot straps and trek yonder even if you are grieving, hurting, or still reeling from an attack by the enemy.

Before he became king of Israel, David and his men were out patrolling one day. when some bandits attacked their city, burned down all the homes, stole their possessions, and kidnapped the women and children. When David and his men returned, they were devastated. But instead of just sitting around mourning over what he had lost, the Bible says that David "encouraged and strengthened himself to the Lord his God (1 Samuel 30:6). in other words, he got up on the inside. He said to his men, "Get your armor back on. We're going to attack the enemy." And they did just that. As David and his men persevered, God supernaturally helped them to recover everything that had been stolen. but I don't believe any of that would have happened if David had not first gotten up on the inside.

You may be sitting around waiting to change your circumstance. Of course when that happens, then you're going to be happy; then you're going to have a good attitude, then you're going to give God praise. But God is waiting on you to get up on the inside. When you do your part, he'll begin to change things and work supernaturally in your life.

And, yes, this can be seen throughout various stages of our life. At one point my son cracked his front teeth during an accident. He was only eight and suffering from anxiety and panic attacks already. He was little, in pain, and unsure of how things would turn out. I remember praying and praying because no dentist would take him since he became emotional in the dental chair crying. One dentist told me, "He will scare my patients, you'll have to leave." Right then and there we packed up, roots still exposed, and went home with the same bottle of codeine.

It's hard to imagine, but it's true. Even his primary was afraid to give him a narcotic to relieve his anxiety and get him into a facility that could help him. This went on for several days, I followed protocol looking for various endodontists according to his insurance. I was kind, considerate, and frightened for my child. Nonetheless I prevailed. Then days were beginning to turn into a week and there my child lay with roots still exposed.

I prayed longer and harder getting no recourse. One day, I got up resolved to go out of the basic companies procedures, state insurance which is always great until SOMETHING HAPPENS, and began tapping into the head of the organization. I went past all the agents and asked to speak to the top. I was on a warpath and God was by my side. I explained my dilemma to a district manager and threw in I would be seeking justice if this wasn't amended today. This was patient cruelty at its best. Baffled he gave me his number and ID and said if you can find a doctor, even if he is not on our policy, we will pay for it as long as they are willing to accept our terms.

One day later, we found a pediatric specialist and he was sedated and in the chair getting two root canals on his front teeth. Mission accomplished. I was over whining and began winning.

When you face adversity, don't be a crybaby. Don't be a complainer. Don't wallow in self-pity. Find a way out!

Don't allow yourself to wave the white flag of surrender. You must get out of that defeated mentality and start thinking and believing positively. Find a tunnel, move stealthily, and keep going. You must show the enemy that you're more determined than he is. Shout allowed, "I'm going to stand in faith even if I have to stand my whole lifetime! I'm going to keep standing up on the inside, no matter how long it takes."

Don't allow yourself to wave the white flag of surrender. You must get out! Start feeling positive. Your attitude should be: I'm coming out of this thing! I may have been sick for a long time, but I know this sickness didn't come to stay. It came to pass. I may have struggled with this addiction for years, but I know my day of deliverance is coming. My children may not be doing right, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!

Got wants you to be a winner, not a whiner. There is no reason for you to be perpetually living "under the circumstances," always down, always discouraged. No matter how many times you get knocked down, darn it, get up! God sees your resolve. He sees your determination. Find that unseen tunnel, get moving! Get back your sanity!
​

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. "​I get so flabbergasted when someone asks me, "Why did God do this to me?" Why would anyone think that God intentionally targeted them to maim and make them miserable? All accounts in the Bible show no such personality of God. Yes, it is understood in the old testament that he punished those who refused to listen to him. But there is not one reading where God aims his mighty sword just to slay his children.

Sadly, we all experience pain in one way or another. And, we are constantly looking for a reason why such pain was inflicted. That is human nature, we are innately curious. We have this incessant need to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, as to why we were traumatized. Unfortunately, at times, this is impossible. In turn, we become more frustrated targeting God. After all, who else could harbor the power to cause such volatile situations?

Kathy, a past student, was touched with death early. She had married the man of her dreams from high school. They were childhood sweethearts, and she could not imagine her life with anyone else. She felt blessed physically and spiritually. She knew God was taking care of her every need, and she was in a constant state of affirmation.

Then one year later the inevitable happened. Her husband, Pat, a hard working engineer received a career bonus that was unexpected. He had been promoted to management in a large facility. Life was suddenly better than good, and the Franks moved to a larger house with all the amenities. Within months Pat was out at the bars with his colleagues solidifying new plans for the organization.

But, also in that short time, Pat found he had a predisposition to being an alcoholic. Happy hour was soon extended each night at home. Pat continued to work as a functioning alcoholic, but Kathy could see a huge phantom lurking in the distance. This bleakness scared her to the core, and she pleaded with Pat to get help.

Pat could not see a problem at hand that required counseling, but he promised to curb his drinking down the road before he allowed another person into their relationship to help. Within two months Pat was dead and Kathy was devastated. She mourned over and over, "This happened too fast! How could he have gotten alcohol poisoning so suddenly?"

Kathy later found out that he had a liver disorder, previous to alcoholism, that was found in the autopsy.

Living life is not always easy. Sometimes it is downright difficult. But, regardless of what's going on in your life, don't use that as an excuse to live in discouragement and despair. Understand that the tough times in life cause us to grow; that's when our faith is stretched. That's when God is doing a work in us. It may be uncomfortable. We may not like it, but if we can keep the right attitude, God has promised to use that difficulty for our good. He'll use it for our advantage.

Unbelievably, Kathy had faith even though every dream was just shattered. She knew God would turn her life around eventually and add more unexpected blessings. We are often told to have faith in adversity. Or, we are told, God sends us tests to ensure we keep our faith. I'm not certain about that, but I do believe that as adversity grows in my life so does my faith. And what can that faith be? For me, it is that defining goal of an intimate relationship with God. That wonderful feeling of his comfort that envelops me even in the most dire situations and keeps me afloat.

If you lose your joy every time something negative happens to you, then the enemy will continue to attack. He'll make sure you always have somebody in your life who irritates you, or some situation that going to keep you sour. Don't make that mistake.

Our Scripture today says, that "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord." If God is directing your steps, then you can be confident that he is aware of your circumstance. Choose to enjoy each day in spite of your circumstances. Grow in your faith and begin speaking more to God.

As for Kathy, she was right! Two years later she married a wonderful man, who she feels is her soulmate. They just had a son to add to their family. She told me, "Most people only are blessed with one true love. God has blessed me with two."

This Week's Meditation:

God, I may not understand this, but I know you have me here for a reason.

Meditate on this for several minutes a day. Allow various thoughts to come into your mind. If you are especially upset state:

I know you will work it for my good. It is stretching me, but I know I'm growing. I'm going to come out of this stronger, happier, healthier, and better off than I was previously.

Remind yourself of healing each moment. ​God has you in his arms always.

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor; He ha sent me to heal the brokenhearted.... to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. "​Sometimes life hits us with a blow so hard that it knocks us right off our feet. We are sucker-punched, and it is so unexpected, and so horrible, that we can't breathe. Pulling ourselves up from the abyss, just trying to catch a breath, can be incredibly difficult. This usually incurs with the loss of someone dear to our hearts, someone that we spent many cherished days with and was a huge part of our everyday life.

For some we get stuck in deeply troubled waters unable to steer our boat to safety. Each time there is a shred of shore in front of us a storm of memories approaches, and we are lost at sea again. It becomes impossible to get through the daily chores of life, and we sink deeper and deeper into an irrational state of constant questions. "Why did this happen to me?" "How could I have prevented it?" "Why did I allow this to happen?"

​Grieving is a normal process. There are incidents, though, that may get us stuck in one of the five stages of the grief process. I once new a woman who was still in a state of depression 10 years after losing her husband to an unexpected accident. He was a wonderful man and father; her childhood sweetheart who swept her off her feet in their freshman year. They were inseparable. In fact, they often felt as a unit of one going about the daily nuances of life, tag-teaming unusual issues.

Once he passed, Carolyn couldn't move forward. Her job suffered, her children suffered as she aimlessly walked through life in survival mode. I tried to encourage her reminding her that there are good days ahead, that her children needed her. But, she was trapped in the past. She was constantly making excuses, blaming God, and blaming other people. She'd tell me, "You just don't know what its like to lose the love of your life. It's so unfair. I'm stuck with it all. I don't understand how God could punish me."

Carolyn did have many blessings in her life. I could see them, but she wasn't accepting God's beauty he was still trying to instill daily. I got to thinking (this may sound callous) that maybe Carolyn didn't want to get well again. She seemed to like wallowing in her own self pity. She may have liked the attention it gave her. I'm sure you have one or two friends on social media that consistently share their woes with everyone. If you follow those comments you'll see a whole lot of attention going on and stating things like, "Keep going!" "You can do it!" "Hang in there!" "We love you, prayers going out to you." It almost seems as though all those friends are enabling that sad, depressed mentality some people share.

Carolyn is still living in a depressed, defeated life today.

But you don't have to be that person living in their rear view mirror thinking about what could have been. Or, what should have been, always dwelling on the pains of yesterday. The scripture says that God wants to give us beauty for our ashes, joy for our mourning, rejoicing for our heaviness. But her's the key: You have to let go of the ashes before God can give you the beauty. Ashes represent what's left over after somethings' been taken away from you. In other words, they represent our broken dreams, our disappointments, our hurts, our failures. We all have our share of ashes, and God wants to give us beauty in exchange for them. But, you can not hold onto the ashes and have the beauty at the same time. You must let go and allow God to give you fresh new dreams.

So, now I'm sure you're waiting for some magic pearls of wisdom. After all, you've been searching the internet for some time now implementing "plans" that are suggested without much luck. There is only one plan and that is reconnecting with God and Jesus Christ. For it is written that God promises peace for those who trust in him. Get that peace now. It is your right! Begin constant prayer until you feel God's warming rays again. After all as Hemingway stated, "You're important, too!"

This Week's Meditation:

God, bring me peace so that I can enjoy life again.

Meditate on this for several minutes a day. Allow various thoughts to come into your mind. If you are especially upset state:

God, I can no longer bear this cross. I relinquish this and ask you to uplift me.

Remind yourself of healing each moment. ​God has you in his arms always.

"Thus says the Lord, "Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, " declares the Lord, "and they will return from the land of the enemy. There is hope for your future," declares the Lord.

Sometimes , no matter how hard we pray or how long we stand in faith, things don't turn out as we had hoped. Some of you out there are praying for your marriages, others are asking that your present girlfriend/boyfriend, become more spiritually in tuned and pick you over other inner demons. I encourage you to persevere, to continue praying and believing for good things to happen. But we all must realize God's will may not be aligned with our wants at the moment.

The other day my son approached me frustrated. "I don't get it Mom, I've been praying and praying that this new relationships takes off, but God isn't working on it."

"Why do you need this relationship so badly?" I asked.

"Because I'm lonely and nothings seems to be working out when I meet women," he replied.

"So are you asking God to find someone to fill your void? Or, are you asking specifically each time you meets someone that they be the ONE?" I answered.

"It doesn't matter, Mom, nothing works anyway," he moaned.

I explained further that God does NOT change another person's will. He has given every human freedom to choose which way he or she will go, whether they do right or wrong in the process. When God allows one door to close, he will open another door to you, revealing something bigger and better. The Bible says that God will take the evil the enemy brings into our lives, and if we'll keep the right attitude, he'll turn around and use if for our good. He wants to take those disappointments and turn them into re appointments. But understand, whether you will experience all those good things in your future depends to a large extent on your willingness to let go of the past.

"So how many doors do I need to open?" he retorted sarcastically.

"That I can not answer," I replied. "But I can tell you if you put it all in God's hands and pray for someone right for you, it will happen."

The Bible has many stories of extreme disappointment. One such is the prophet Samuel. He suffered a terrible disappointment in his relationship with the first king of Israel, a man named Saul. As young man, Saul was humble and shy. Then God picked Samuel out of a crowd and declared him help the new king of Israel. Samuel did his best to help Saul be a king who was pleasing unto God.

Unfortunately, Saul refused to live in obedience to God, and God eventually rejected him as king. Imagine Samuel's misfortune. He invested a lot of time, effort, emotion, and energy into this relationship with Saul. But for some reason things got off course and Samuel must have felt robbed.

Samuel was heartbroken. But God spoke to him, "Samuel how long are you going to mourn over Saul? (Samuel 16:1). "Fill up your horn with oil and be on your way. I'm sending you to the house of Jesse, for I have chosen one of his sons to be a new king." God didn't waste anytime consoling Samuel, he simply had a plan already in the making.

This is the problem with excessive mourning. When we focus on our disappointments, we stop God from bringing fresh new blessings into our lives. Are your presently focusing in the wrong direction? Are you expecting God to change the will of another human being? God has a new plan for you. Trust me, it is bigger and better than the one your pining over right now.

​This Week's Meditation:

Let me recognize my problems have been solved.

Meditate on this for several minutes a day. Allow various thoughts to come into your mind. If you are especially upset state:

Let me recognize this problem has been solved.

Remind yourself of healing each moment. ​God has you in his arms always.

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed."

What a terrible flow of emotions that comes with a loss of a beloved family member. These delightful, furry creatures bring such warmth, love, and nurturing to our homes each day. It is devastating when they leave and flood of grief floods us for a period of time.

In our despair, we relive the touching memories that will last a lifetime. Those moments when unconditional love blessed our halls. The uplifting moments when we were so down with our most intimate thoughts and they just knew................. and sat by our side stoically. Other times when despair would reach out to clutch us deeper, but large dark eyes, full of love, would lift us upward and let us know someone cares.

They shared a life with us, usually unscheduled, but times that fit into our daily routine perfectly. Their presence was felt each moment as we went about our daily duties watching them observing us like silent centurions. Oh, if we could just stop this very moment and reach down for one last long luxurious petting session-one last condolence to lift our spirits.

Those days of adventures planned with a four-legged friend are gone! Such thrifty entertainment they can be! Why a mere walk in the park or on the beach adds extra delight when they are in tow. Also, family trips are less expensive when an animal is in the back seat. There are just so many places that don't allow dogs! But, those other secretive spots that make memory imprints are there for the taking. These trips spent with immediate family members boast more fun and free-living then all the theme parks combined. Hikes in the mountains or cooling off in a swimming hole are the days that will live in my heart forever. These days you were with me my friend to fill me with joy.

I am so grateful you spent your life's journey with us. We were blessed the day you arrived at our door. Your intelligence and unconditional love has left an imprint on our souls, and we will never be the same without you. Until we meet again...... my your days be blessed with green fields and flowers, with sticks being thrown in a lake, with ocean waves rippling over your body, and someone to pet you throughout the day.

No matter how much preparation is given to their final days a sense of loss accompanies the moment. After all, animals provide companionship, acceptance, emotional support, and unconditional love. If you understand and accept this bond between humans and animals, you've already taken the first step toward coping with pet loss - the grieving process. And nothing "smarts" more than the loss of a treasured family member. All you can do is pray and ward off the impending storm until it subsides and rays of light peak through of glistened memories.

We dedicate this poem to our beloved Buddy.

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

​Psalm 22:24

For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.

This verse talks about the comforting presence of God, and emphasizes that He cares about all of creation. Since pets are part of that creation, they are included in this care and attention.

This verse also applies to grieving pet owners after the loss of their pet. The loss of a furry family member can cut very deep, and the intensity of grief may surprise those who are not pet-lovers. It can take a long time to work through the sadness of a pet's death.

Monday's BlessingDeuteronomy 32:36
"The Lord will vindicate his people, and will have compassion on his servants. "

Many of us have experienced relationships like this: someone we love acts toward us in ways that continually damage.

It’s one thing to forgive and move on from a wound we received in the past, and another animal entirely when we get hurt again and again, in the same place, a scab not quite healed over before it’s ripped off again.

Margaret came to me five years ago with the following story: ​There is a person in my life who I love with all my heart, but in this relationship I struggle to keep a full cup myself. They are family, the situation is complicated and tender. But learning to have compassion for this other person begins with having compassion for myself.

A nasty divorce spanning most of my childhood set the stage for our current situation. My mother was deeply emotionally wounded by my father, and carried that pain into her parenting of my sister and me.

Contact with the ex (my dad) dropped to nil—maybe a week a year, far below what the court had decided.

Any efforts on our parts to connect with our absent parent, even recounting fond memories, were seen by our mother as attacks on her legitimacy and a discounting of her pain. And what emotional intimacy we shared was often exploited—it kept us locked into the family unit, not believing we could have our needs filled elsewhere, least of all with our absentee father.

A few short years prior, I felt part of a happy, perfect family. Suddenly one parent was effectively gone. My relationship with the other became a labyrinth of confusion—love down this path, hurt down the other, and at my young age I couldn’t find the rhyme or reason to it.

Childhood gifted me a number of unhealthy survival mechanisms, which still follow me around today: a deep fear of conflict (because conflict often meant someone would leave), constant apologies and guilt for things I’m not truly responsible for, and a voice in the back of my mind telling me no matter what I do, who I am, who I become, it will never be enough.

The scripture says, "Never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for God's wrath." (Romans 12:19) Notice if you continue to see people in an old light, or try to pay them back, you are closing the door for God to do anything for you. If you're going to let God handle it, you can't have the attitude of "I'm not going to let anyone hurt me again." That will prevent God from avenging someone who hurt you or opening a new door to happiness. If you want to keep that door open so God can bring in justice into your life, you have to totally turn it over to him.

Maybe you've been working through a situation and you've been doing the right thing for a long time. Perhaps this has been going on month and month, maybe year after year, and now your wondering, "Is God ever going to change this situation? Is God ever going to bring about justice? does He even care about me?"

Don't give up! This is what I told Margaret. Keep doing the right thing. God is building character in you, and you are passing that test. Remember the greater the struggle, the greater the reward. The Scripture says, "Don't get tired of doing what's right, for in due season, you will reap if you don't faint." (Galatians 6:9) Don't grow weary; trust God to bring justice in his timing, not yours.

Last week I was strolling through the park trying to gain some more daily "steps" for my Fit-bit when I ran into Margaret. She had three children playing and laughing on the slide. I sat for moment to catch up. She had married two years ago and once her first was born she understood the turmoil her mother went through. That relationship was patched up a year ago she explained. Once she had a family of her own, it was easier to sit down and really listen to what her mother had to say. "My life is fantastic now! I'm so glad I let God handle everything! I don't think I would have understood her if I didn't have children of my own."

This Week's Meditation:

Let miracles replace all grievances

Meditate on this for several minutes a day. Allow various thoughts to come into your mind. If you are especially upset state:

Let me behold my Savior in this one.
He is the only one who can lead me to the Holy light in which he stands,
​that I may join him.

Remind yourself of healing each moment. ​God has you in his arms always.

“Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life: he who believes in me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. do you believe this?"

When Kind David's newborn baby was dreadfully sick and near death, David prayed night and day, believing that God could heal his child. He wouldn't eat or dirk; he didn't shave or shower. He didn't attend to any business. He wouldn't do anything but pray, crying out to God.

Despite David's passionate prayers, on the seventh day the child died. David's servants worried how they were going to tell the king that his baby was dead. They thought he would be so devastated, so distraught that he couldn't' handle it. But when David finally figured out what had happened, he surprised them all. He got up off the floor, washed his face, and put on some fresh clothes. Then he asked his servants to bring him some food, and he sat down and ate a meal.

His servants were confused. They said, "David, when your child was alive, you fasted and prayed. But now that he's gone, you act as thought nothing's wrong."

David answered, "Yes, I fasted and prayed when my son was sick, thinking that God might heal him. But now that he is gone, I cannot bring him back. He will not return to me, but In time, I will go to be with him." Notice David's attitude. He didn't get bitter. He didn't question Gd. He could have snarled, "God, I thought you loved me. Why didn't you answer my prayers?" He just went on amongst his disappointment. He washed his face and moved on with life.

Disappointment has got to be one of life’s most uncomfortable feelings. It’s complex, containing a subset of other emotions like anger, hurt, and sadness. Sometimes, those emotions by themselves are easier to deal with, but add disappointment and your life begins to unravel.

Here are 4 steps to get past disappointment:

1. Let it out.

One of the hardest things to do in a world where everything is immediate is to just let yourself experience a feeling.

Even at the most difficulties times, such as grieving, on average we only allow ourselves 1 to 2 weeks and expect to get back into normality again.

Human beings are not very good at allowing the experiencing of emotions in full without trying to speed up the process. The only time we have this ability in its purest sense is when we are young children who have yet to be told or taught what is socially acceptable.

Allow yourself to feel what you’re feeling without any agenda of speeding up the process. Whatever you are feeling is OK. Take some time to just sit with your emotion and experience it without moving to fix or change it.

2. Get some perspective.

The wonderful thing about letting it out is that you have given yourself that time. You have said to yourself, “I care about you. I want to allow you to feel what you need to feel." You have treated yourself like a friend and allowed yourself the space you needed to experience your feelings of disappointment.

Once you’ve done that, it becomes much easier to get some perspective. After you give yourself space to feel, you’re able to give the situation or individuals involved more room to breathe.

Perhaps the person who you feel disappointed by doesn’t even realize they’ve done something to upset you. Maybe they’re stressed out and don’t have the emotional bandwidth to think about it because they aren’t allowing themselves time to experience their emotions.

Giving yourself space to be as you are prepares you to allow the same to other people.

3. Know your own heart.

Disappointment can ripple through to the core of who you are. If you don’t know what your core values are, you may not have a framework to support you when you experience negative emotions.

When someone disappoints me and I feel like closing and withdrawing, I remember my core values, then pause and make a choice.

I wish to be an open-hearted person. These negative feelings are feelings, and they will pass. Do I choose to remain open-hearted, or do I choose to follow the easier instinct and close off? More often than not, I choose to be in line with my values over the automatic response to the situation.

Knowing your own heart and your values gives you the freedom of choice. You can choose to be driven by what happens to you, or you can choose to live in line with your principles.

4. Practice acceptance.

As human beings, even though we know that some things are bound to happen, we’re not always willing to accept them.

Every time I am disappointed, I feel overwhelmed by my emotions. I’m inclined to withdraw and blame others, wanting to wallow in my disappointment. Each time this happens, I must accept i will work through it again and again.

I have to accept that I will continue to be disappointed—that it is a part of life, part of being human. I also have to accept that I will probably continue to struggle to accept this fact, at various points throughout the rest of my life!

Practice acceptance and we may suffer less as it is happening and notice the good things in life more.

My friend, you have to learn to do the same things. People may have mistreated you. Somebody may have walked out on you, or maybe you prayed fervently, yet God didn't answer your prayer the way you had anticipated. That's over and done. You cannot change the past, there's nothing you can do about it now. You must make a decision. Are you going to relive all those painful memories, or are you going to stay in an attitude of faith?

This Week's Meditation:

Love holds no grievances.

Meditate on this for several minutes a day. Allow your thoughts to come into your mind. Each time a negative thought comes slowly bring your thought process back to realizing that true love holds no grievance, and we are made from true love. Remind yourself of healing each moment.
​

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.."

Fifteen years ago, terrorists flew commercial planes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, and a failed attempt that crashed in a field in Pennsylvania.

These suicide attacks of horrific carnage stunned the world and caused many to turn for consolation to spiritual faith and sacred Scriptures. For this Fifteenth anniversary, the following Bible verses are of solace for you.

"I've commanded you to be brave and strong, haven't I? Don't be alarmed or terrified, because the LORD your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9)

"My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness. So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me."

The normal ups and downs of life result in sadness or feeling blue from time to time. But if emptiness and despair have taken over your life or someone close to you and lasts for weeks or months, depression may be the cause. Depression makes it tough to function and enjoy life. Just getting through the day can be overwhelming.

Depression differs from person to person, but there are common signs and symptoms. It’s important to remember that these symptoms are also a part of life if they happen intermittently. But the more symptoms you have, or the stronger emotional despair felt, it may be time to seek help. Signs and symptoms of depression include:

Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. A bleak outlook—nothing will ever get better and there’s nothing you can do to improve your situation.

Loss of interest in daily activities. No interest in former hobbies, pastimes, social activities, or sex. You’ve lost your ability to feel joy and pleasure.

Appetite or weight changes. Significant weight loss or weight gain—a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month.

Sleep changes. Either insomnia, especially waking in the early hours of the morning, or oversleeping (also known as hypersomnia).

Unexplained aches and pains. An increase in physical complaints such as headaches, back pain, aching muscles, and stomach pain.

Depression is a major risk factor for suicide. The deep despair and hopelessness that goes along with depression can make suicide feel like the only way to escape the pain. If you have a loved one with depression, take any suicidal talk or behavior seriously and learn to recognize the warning signs.Warning signs of suicide include:

Talking about killing or harming one’s self

Expressing strong feelings of hopelessness or being trapped

An unusual preoccupation with death or dying

Acting recklessly, as if they have a death wish (e.g. speeding through red lights)

Saying things like “Everyone would be better off without me” or “I want out”

A sudden switch from being extremely depressed to acting calm and happy

Don't allow weaknesses and insecurities to keep you from life or being that angel someone else may need. God loves to use ordinary people like you to do extraordinary things. You may not feel capable in your own strength, but God knows that already. The apostle Paul said, "When we are weak, He is strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) God knows we need help from time to time, and within that time span we are often needed to help others.

God sees us as "well able" people. Not because we are powerful, but because God is powerful and works within us. When we face adversity and hardships in life, fill up with the boldness and confidence knowing that God will help you overcome them.

Should you or a loved one be faced with depression take a moment to pray. Ask God how you should maneuver this latest obstacle. Realize that you may need a support system. Seek help for depression. Encourage anyone else that suffers from this to do so, too. The following tips may help:
​10 Depression Treatments1. Get in a routine. If you’re depressed, you need a routine.2. Set goals. When you're depressed, you may feel like you can't accomplish anything. That makes you feel worse about yourself. To push back, set daily goals for yourself.
3. Exercise. It temporarily boosts feel-good chemicals called endorphins. It may also have long-term benefits for people with depression. Regular exercise seems to encourage the brain.4. Eat healthy. There is no magic diet that fixes depression. It's a good idea to watch what you eat, though. If depression tends to make you overeat, getting in control of your eating will help you feel better.
5. Get enough sleep. Depression can make it hard to get enough shut-eye, and too little sleep can make depression worse.
6. Take on responsibilities. When you’re depressed, you may want to pull back from life and give up your responsibilities at home and at work. Don't. Staying involved and having daily responsibilities can help you maintain a lifestyle that can help counter depression. They ground you and give you a sense of accomplishment.
7. Challenge negative thoughts. In your fight against depression, a lot of the work is mental -- changing how you think. When you're depressed, you leap to the worst possible conclusions.
8. Check with your doctor before using supplements. There's evidence for certain supplements for depression. Those include fish oil, folic acid, and SAMe.
9. Do something new. When you’re depressed, you’re in a rut. Push yourself to do something different. Go to a museum. Pick up a used book and read it on a park bench.
10. Try to have fun. If you’re depressed, make time for things you enjoy.

"They eye is the lamp of the body; so then if you eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness."

God gave us one powerful imagination. Did you know your eyes take in four million bytes of information every second? The moment a visual experience reaches your brain, those millions of processed data convert to 3-D picture in your mind.

Our minds are so powerful that if I read a passage to you of a serene day at the beach, you would automatically recollect a sunny day, waves frolicking, and cool breezes caressing your face. In fact, each of us has a self-made portrait of ourselves in our imagination.

What does your portrait look like? Do you have a negative image of yourself? Are you unable to see your self rising out of your difficulties and overcoming your obstacles? Believe it or not, you are limited to your own vision of yourself. That is how powerful our imaginations are at work!

The Bible reminds us that the eye is the lamp of our body. It is talking about the image you have of yourself. This verse is saying that if you focus on your problems, especially on things you can't do, that image will keep you stuck. You'll never get out and prosper.

On the other hand, if you learn to look at life with eyes of faith, and imagine yourself moving to new levels, you can be sure good vibes will follow. You must envision yourself accomplishing your dreams, receiving more, giving more, loving more, enjoying life more; and then you'll experience God's favor.

We are products of our own environments. It's a simple truth that you cannot give birth to something you have not begun to conceive. You must conceive it inside your imagination first before it will come to pass. You must quit allowing your imagination to keep you beaten down to where you think you can't do anything. Instead, ask God to bless you with a vivid, positive imagination so that you can enjoy life today.

Your imagination is like a canvas. You can paint any scene on it you desire. Enlist your thoughts and attitudes to help you hone in on things you want to change. Begin your prayers each day with this white canvas and ask God, "What shall I paint today?" Then sit tight and be prepared for blessings to follow!